“Why are you so nervous? You’re a grown man. She’s a widow. You surprise me by running from her.”
“The woman accosts me in my office.”
Sandi’s food caught in her throat. An image of the widow and the hot doctor was one she did not want in her mind. She held up one hand, palm out.
“Please. TMI.”
He gave her a glare of irritation. “I keep a nurse with me at all times, but her advances are getting more than tiresome. I’m afraid she’ll waylay me on the street. Or, God forbid, show up at my home.”
“I wouldn’t put it past her.”
His groan reminded her of a wounded animal.
“All right.” She laid down her fork and dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “I know how she is, so I guess I could show you some sympathy.”
“Why do you hate me?”
Sandi choked on her beer, then grabbed a napkin to wipe her chin. “I don’t hate you.”
“Your actions speak otherwise.”
“I could ask you the same question.”
“Me?” he sputtered incredulously. “I do not hate you.”
“You’ve treated me coldly since we met at the hospital. You made it very clear when we had dinner at Sheldon’s, you had no interest in me if I were looking to land a doctor. You’re rude, arrogant, boorish—”
“It’s quite obvious you don’t like me,” he said in a hard, controlled voice. “That’s what makes this so difficult.”
“What? Dinner?” She threw her napkin on top of her plate. “If you didn’t want to have dinner with me, then why the hell did you invite me?”
“Calm down, will you? That’s not what I meant.”
“What exactly did you mean?” Then she remembered. He’d said proposition. “What is it you want me to do?”
He took a gulp of beer as if he needed the substance for courage. She would never have thought the man weak.
“Be my girlfriend.”
Again, she stared, the wind knocked out of her.
Aww no.
Hell no.
“Is this your proposition?”
“Yes. Pretend to be my girlfriend.”
Pretend.
“Out of the question.”
“You don’t have a boyfriend,” he said brazenly.
“How do you know?”
“I don’t think your friend would have tried to fix us up if you did.”
Asshole. “Maybe I got one since then.”
“Did you?”
“No. That’s why I need my friend to fix me up,” she said sarcastically.
“Miss Jones, I—”
“Mister Baker,” she interrupted, imitating him.
His jaw twitched in anger. “This is not a joke.”
She turned up her beer, seriously thinking of ordering another. He drew in a deep breath, drawing her attention to his broad shoulders. Strong shoulders. She wondered what they might look like without his shirt.
Pretend girlfriend. This had disaster written all over it.
“Nope. Can’t happen.”
“Why?” He leaned forward, his gaze burning into hers. Probing, searching for secrets, bristling with curiosity. Glowing with interest. Had he noticed her examining his shoulders?
The waiter picked that moment to ask if they needed more drinks. As soon as he left, Sandi picked right back up as if their conversation had not been interrupted.
“Are you serious? You don’t even like me.”
“Miss Jones—”
“Will you quit calling me Miss Jones? My name is Sandi.”
“Sandi. If we were friends, I’d ask you to help out a friend. Since we are not—I certainly don’t want to insult you—so you may choose how I will repay you. In kind or in cash, I’ll gladly pay you for your part in this.”
“I have not agreed yet, but what do you expect me to do?”
“Let it be known around town that you are my girlfriend.”
“That’s it? Just put out a rumor?”
“Please. I don’t know what else to do.”
It was the “please” that did it. She didn’t know he had it in him. He even looked pitiful. Maybe the word to describe him was distraught. She’d always been a sucker for a sad case.
“What else?”
“Hmmm?” he asked confused.
“What else do you need from me? Don’t you think we should date or at least be seen together in public before I suddenly announce I’m your girl? The thing about rumors is that they won’t last without some foundation.”
His jaw tightened. “Whatever it takes to keep that Barracuda off my neck.”
“Barracuda?” Sandi laughed. “Appropriate. Although it will take more than saying I’m your girlfriend to get rid of her.”
“My fiancé then. Sheldon is engaged. She leaves him alone.”
“Now hold on.” The waiter came back with two more beers. Sandi bit her cheek, counting the seconds for him to disappear.
“You do realize this is pretend,” he said as soon as the waiter turned his back. “Or if you like, think of it as a job. I’ve offered to pay you for your services.”
“What services? I think we need to discuss the specifics.”
A dangerous glint came to his eyes. Sandi felt like she was under a microscope, and he’d just undressed her with his gaze. A hot flush raced through her body.
“I agree. Specifics need to be discussed. Not here. That conversation would be more appropriate in a quieter setting.”
Oh, he was definitely dangerous.
“Just how long do you plan to play this game? As soon as we,” she curved her fingers on both hands imitating quotes, “break up, you’ll be a free man and in the same situation.”
“It was all I could think of,” he replied as if defeated. “I need a solution quick.”
Was that pity creeping across her chest? She took a gulp of her beer, knowing she should keep her mouth closed.
When had she ever listened to good advice?
“I’m not sure if this is a solution to your problem.”
“If it keeps the woman away from me, I’ll take it.” He braced his forearms on the edge of the table. “This could work. At least, give me time to think of another idea. Hell, the woman could find another man to stalk, and I’d be off the hook. I just need something for now. Temporary.”
She plucked at her napkin without meeting his gaze. “How temporary?”
“I don’t know. Six months?”
Six months would be a chunk of her life.
“What if I meet someone else and want out?”
“You can dissolve our arrangement at any time. I only hope you will accept, and we can work out the other details. I’m not an ogre Miss, err, Sandi.”
Oh God. When he looked at her like that, she forgot about his previous cavalier behavior. She mentally shook herself.
“You mentioned you got the idea from Sheldon. I’ll bet Regina put him up to this. You wait till I see her.”
“He had nothing to do with my proposition. I merely surmised he was engaged, and if that worked for him, it could work for me.”
“A big hunk of bait floundering in a little pond with a giant fish named Barracuda.”
When Doug signaled for the check, Sandi knew he’d had enough of her teasing. She just couldn’t help herself.
“You can think it over while we discuss the specifics,” he said as he signed the bill. “But I strongly suggest you make it quick. The sooner the better. I don’t know how long I can avoid that woman.”
Chapter 9
This was a disaster waiting to happen. And Sandi was looking forward to it. Sort of. She opened the door to her house and stepped inside, expecting Doug
to follow. Working out the details of their—whatever it was—would be better in private than a public restaurant.
On the one hand, it would be a hoot to watch Doug squirm. Barracuda. She giggled again, then squashed it before she received another glare. It was just too darn funny and exactly what he deserved.
On the other hand, it made her nervous. Being in his presence every day. He had some potent magnetism going on. She looked forward to playing the game but feared it might backfire on her. She might forget their relationship was not a real one at all. She might fall for him—or she might kill him.
Doug had no trouble aiming his glares and antagonism at her. He should pull up his big-boy pants and handle Mrs. Talbert without involving Sandi in his scheme.
Although, she’d seen the woman in action. “Barracuda” fit her quite well. Doug didn’t say what happened, but Sharon must have scared him. Sandi would have loved to have seen that. Maybe she tried crawling all over him like an octopus? Had she puckered those ruby-red lips and laid one on him, in the doctor’s office, no less? Sandi’s lips quivered in amusement. The woman wanted to play doctor.
She sniggered again.
“Will you stop that?”
“Can’t help it,” she said with a shrug. She hung her coat in the closet and placed his beside it.
“I’ll make some coffee.”
“Thanks,” he said, rubbing his hands.
“Cold? I’d think the temperatures were colder in Pennsylvania.”
“What? Oh. Habit.”
Habit? Was he nervous? Sharon must have really gotten to him. Or was he nervous being in Sandi’s apartment?
“You’re safe with me—for the moment.” She winked. He shot her another one of his famous glares. “Better get used to me if I’m going to be your girlfriend.”
His confused expression stayed in her mind as she stepped into her kitchen. Being a person who liked her coffee fresh, she loved her Keurig. She popped the pods, listened to the hiss, and inhaled the delicious aroma.
“Black, right?” she called out to Doug.
“Yes.” She jumped, his deep voice right behind her, and her heart shot to her throat.
She grabbed the counter, wondering when he’d sneaked up behind her. Her pulse pounded like a scared jackrabbit. Her skin prickled, from surprise, or perhaps his nearness. Sex appeal oozed from the man like pollen on a flower, and she wanted to be the bee who snatched it up.
She pulled herself together and stepped away from the counter to get milk from the fridge.
“Thanks,” he said, taking the cup, then he strode back to the living room.
By the time she joined him, she had gotten herself under control. Could she stand to be near him for the next few weeks? Months?
“Let me make it clear—right now—there will be rules.”
The dominating tone was back. Yep, keep that up, buster, and I’ll have no problem throwing you to the barracuda.
Wait . . .
Rules?
They needed to discuss exactly what he expected. She couldn’t just jump into a relationship with this man.
Pretend relationship.
“Why me? I’m not sure I even like you.” That flew right over his head. He didn’t seem to be bothered whether she liked him or not.
“For that very reason. With you I won’t need to worry about your true intentions.”
My intentions? She sat in an easy chair instead of the place beside him on the couch. She carefully placed her mug on the coffee table and locked her eyes to his.
“I wonder if everyone else will see me as a gold digger.”
“Look—”
“Don’t deny it. You thought I was after your money, so it’s reasonable to think others may get the same idea.” He opened his mouth, but she didn’t let him speak. Her voice grew louder. “Especially if you’ve led them to believe that money is the only reason a woman might be interested in you.”
“May I speak?” At her nod, he continued. “Despite what I may have thought, and I’m not saying what you said is true, I did not tell anyone anything. Nor have I made my assumptions clear.”
“You’ve made them very clear to me.” She was proud her voice came out harsh.
“Then we should not have any trouble agreeing to a few particulars.”
She couldn’t do this.
So why did you bring him here?
She could at least listen.
“Such as?”
“Well, first of all, we must each play our part convincingly.”
“Convincingly,” she repeated dryly.
“Nothing too dramatic. Mrs. Talbert just needs to buy into it.”
“All right. I think I can manage that.”
“For example, kissing.”
She reached for her coffee and froze. “You’re joking.”
“At some point, there may be a situation . . . where we might have to kiss.”
“We don’t have to do anything. For pity’s sake.” She grabbed her coffee to have something in her hands. “If you can’t stand me, why would you want to kiss me?”
“I didn’t say I wanted to.”
Well, that settled that quite explicitly.
“I said we may find ourselves in an unforeseen situation. And where the hell did you get that idea? I never said I couldn’t stand you.”
Her gaze darted away from his. Where had her backbone gone? At first, she thought he’d lost his mind. Then she liked the idea of making him suffer. What could be the harm in bringing out her impish side? Time to give the egotistical doctor the kick in the ass that he so suitably deserved.
“Let’s get back to rules.”
“Rules, yes.” He shoved a hand through his gorgeous hair.
Another sign the man was not entirely comfortable with the situation. She would learn more of his traits and use them against him. Ha.
“We’ll date. Like a real couple. I’ll take you out, let everyone see us, then bring you home. Period.”
She couldn’t help the smile on her face as she repeated, “Period.”
“Do not expect anything else.”
“Like what?”
“Like sex.”
She forced herself not to choke. All men wanted sex. From her experience, that’s all they wanted. Doug was telling her not to expect sex? Was he gay?
She shook off the ridiculous thought as soon as it emerged.
“No sex. Got it.”
The look on his face said he didn’t believe her. Or he didn’t believe how calmly she’d accepted his rules.
“Anything else?”
“No entanglements. No attachments. Strictly business.”
“Strictly business. Got it.”
He looked like he wanted to rip into her, so she gave him her sweetest smile. She took a sip of her coffee and watched him fidget over the rim of her cup. Fidget. The cup against her lips kept her from laughing at the big, strong, handsome man fidgeting.
“Are there any rules of your own you might want to put on the table?”
No touchy-feely. Kiss only in public. No sex. What else was there to worry about?
“Don’t you think you’ll have the same problem after six months? You’ll be on the market again. What’s to keep Sharon from coming after you then?”
He shoved a hand through his hair. Man, she’d really like to get her fingers in there.
Not going to happen.
“We could extend our bargain longer.”
“Assuming we make it six months.”
“Precisely the reason you’re perfect for this. You are the only female who is not out to trap the new doctor in a sham of a marriage. At least not now, anyway.”
Did she hear him right?
&
nbsp; “Not now?”
He released a long sigh before answering. “I’ve destroyed any notions you may or may not have had about me.”
That’s what he thought. She still had the notion he was an ass.
“What about Sheldon and Regina? We can’t keep them in the dark.”
“If we want this to work, we need to be convincing. Sheldon is my partner. I like Regina, but I don’t trust her to keep her mouth shut. She might slip.”
“Regina won’t be fooled. We’ve been friends since grade school. She can read me like a book.”
“Then you’ll have to work harder.”
At what?
“I don’t want to lie to my friend.”
“Look,” he said, scooting forward. “They keep throwing us together. Sheldon keeps talking about you. Am I right that Regina does the same? Nag you to go out with me?”
Why is the idea so preposterous?
“This is the way to stop their meddling. We’ll say we’re dating, and they’ll leave us alone.”
“That’s one way of looking at it,” she muttered. “I still don’t like lying to my friend.”
“Don’t lie. Go out with me. She’ll see us and draw her own conclusions.”
“You don’t have a best friend, do you?”
“Of course, I do. Sheldon.”
“You tell each other everything?”
“Men are different.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” she muttered again, not expecting him to hear.
He did. He scowled.
Damn it. She placed her mug on the table, knowing they would not be able to hide this secret.
“I don’t want to date anyone,” he said. “Since you seem to have such a low opinion of me, you’re the perfect choice.”
Where did he get that idea? He was the one who didn’t like her. She still wondered why.
Could she do this?
Should she do this?
Of course not. She’d be living a lie.
The Doctor's Bargain Page 8
